Frobisher Bay, NWT

1959 – Historical Report – USAF Historical Division

Historical Record
926th AC&W Squadron
Frobisher Bay, NWT
1 January 1959 to 31 March 1959

Section I

REQUIRED DATA
  1. Unit and Location

926th Squadron, (ADC)
Frobisher Bay, Baffin Island, Canada
  1. Name and Grade of Commander

Francis A Russell, Major, USAF
  1. Chain of Command (Superior Echelons)

    2. 4732nd Air Defense Group, APO 677, New York, New York,
    64th Air Division (Defense), APO 862, New York New York.
  • Subordinate Units (Down to and including squadrons)

    • None
  • Mission (Give authority and brief statement of primary mission)

    • The mission of the 926th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron is to conduct air defense operations within that area assigned by Headquarters, 64th Air Division (Defense) Regulation 55-24 and function as a GCI Station in the Air Defense System.
  • Personnel
    		•
       

    Officers

    Airmen

    Civilians

    Total

    		  
     

    Assigned

    12

    100

    19

    131

    		  
     

    Attached

    1

    8

    1

    10

    		  
                 
  • Equipment (Give official nomenclature and quantity of mission-type equipment)
    •

    AN/FPS-3C; AN/FPS-502; AN/TPS-502.

    Section II

    COMMENTARY

    The Systems Training Program was initiated during February with the installation of the T-2 Trainer and participation in the first series of Systems Training Missions. Mr. James T Flood, representative of the Systems Development Corporation, Santa Monica, California, spent six weeks with squadron personnel as technical advisor during the initial installation period.

    The 15-J-1C Trainer was relocated during March. The Trainer was moved from the operations projection room to the radar maintenance shop and was modified in accordance with TO 43D7-13-2-2-501.

    The internal communications system in operations was revised in March in order to provide the required communications at each operational position and to allow more efficient utilization of available communications lines. This change was initiated when communications difficulties were experienced during the initial Systems Training Missions.

    Transmitters and receivers were inoperative for 13 hours and 20 minutes in January due to a power failure. The power failure was traced to a short in the main power cable which occurred during a high wind condition.

    The 51-pair Communications Cable from the squadron to the 1876th Radio Relay "Pole Vault" was replaced on 22 February. The original cable was shorted out inside the Radio Relay building by snow which had blown in during a high wind condition.

    Two fire incidents occurred in March. On 14 March a mattress was 100% destroyed by fire and on 28 March, three main power lines at the 1876th Radio Relay building shorted, destroying 20 feet of each cable.

    Snowfall during the reporting period was very limited; however, several periods of high winds accompanied by blowing snow and limited visibility were experienced. Winds were recorded up to 85 knots and for a period of four days beginning on 18 February, roads to lower base were closed to all traffic due to snow drifts and low visibility. Temperatures of 48 below zero were recorded during February, with temperatures, in general, averaging lower than for the same period in 1958.

    Major Francis A Russell, Squadron Commander, departed this station TDY to Harmon Air Force Base for the purpose of medical treatment. Command was temporarily assumed by Captain Paul H Curtner, Jr., Installations Engineer, during Major Russell’s absence.

    Typed Name and Grade of Commander

    Paul H Curtner, Jr., Captain, USAF

    Signature